SEPTEMBER 7, 1942

WASHINGTON, Sunday—Last night was the closing session of the assembly organized by the United
States Committee of the International Student Service. It was a very moving meeting.
The declaration which was drafted by the young people and their determination to keep
a committee together to work in peace as well as in war, with all the various countries
represented, shows a faith and hope in the future which only youth can have.

I am sure that every one of the older generation said a fervent prayer last night
that, out of this meeting of young minds, out of their struggles to find a common
ground on which they could unite, there would come a strength and determination for
future work which would mean much to the peace of the world.

The International Student Service is concerned primarily with the intellectual groups,
but these intellectual groups have much to gain from all of the other youth groups
in their nations and in the world. The practical experience of boys and girls at work
in mines or factories, or on the farms, may make a contribution to the students. Education
will provide better leadership, but it is not the only thing needed to build a better
civilization for the future. In saying
goodbye
to the delegates at the assembly, I want to wish them well from the bottom of my
heart.

The other day I saw an appeal in a newspaper that we, who may have old furs, coats,
jackets and scarfs, turn them in to the "Fur Vest Project Workroom" in New York City,
so that they may be made into warm vests for our Merchant Marine sailors. The work
on them will be donated by the workers in the industry. I am sure that those who have
furs to give, will be very glad to do so.

I have a most interesting letter from some food sales consultants, who make the point
that if we are going to improve the nutrition of the country while the cost of living
is going up, we must
find
ways of saving. They enclose a series of suggestions stating that there is practically
no household in the country whose kitchen could not make savings which will amount
to a great deal in the aggregate. I quote here one paragraph, which struck me as particularly
interesting and made me want to investigate my own kitchen at once.

"'What' is waste, 'where' is it, and 'how' can we put a stop to it? Waste is the withered
potato
lying in the bottom of the bag, multiplied by millions of other potatoes all over
the country. Waste is the tired-out box of crackers reposing on my pantry shelf and that of my neighbor.
These may sound like trivial examples, but the sum total of such minor wasteful habits
from Maine to California have expanded our national 'waste-line' until it is around
our necks and choking us out of $3,500,000,000 food dollars each year."